Despite video surveillance, at least two cars have been recently reported being totally emptied at the La Spezia station car park. The owners had left their bags out of sight overnight while they visited Cinque Terre. The thieves used electronic means to unlock the car. To add to the frustration, baggage storage is no longer available at La Spezia Central.
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
It's mentioned here often that you should never leave valuables inside your car, no matter where you park. It's always smarter to leave luggage at a left luggage facility or, if that's not available, to take your luggage to your hotel.
Sorry this happened and I hope it didn't ruin the trip.
Donna
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32401 posts
There's really no way to prevent that whether using a rental car or your own car at home, which is a good reason not to leave valuables in cars at any time. Unfortunately newer model cars that come with "conveniences" such as keyless entry or whatever, also make it easy for thieves to access the vehicles very easily if they have the right equipment (which isn't expensive or hard to obtain). As cars have increased in complexity, thieves have learned new ways to steal them.
Here are some examples
- https://www.wired.com/2017/04/just-pair-11-radio-gadgets-can-steal-car/
- https://www.wired.com/2015/08/hackers-tiny-device-unlocks-cars-opens-garages/
My car doesn't have any of the new high tech conveniences, so I don't have to worry about that type of theft. This is a good reminder on why I prefer to use public transit as much as possible in Italy and other countries in Europe.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
12078 posts
Sadly not really surprising it would be a place for that sort of thing.
Probably better to turn the car in while in the CT and 're-rent' it when leaving the area, to avoid having a car vulnerable to damage and loss of contents.
With no baggage storage, it gives the bad guys an edge, knowing there will be cars there with 'goodies' inside
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16219 posts
I would never park the car in La Spezia while staying at the Cinque Terre overnight.
There are decent parking facilities at Monterosso (multi-story car park at the Loreto location, and a lot on the beach at Fegina), Riomaggiore (multi-story carpark), and plenty of parking lots in Levanto. Not sure about Vernazza, since I use only the Monterosso or Riomaggiore facilities, but I bet it's a very small one.
I would simply find accommodations in one of the above villages that has parking lots and obviously I would roll all the luggage to my accommodations, not leave them in the car.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16721 posts
We don't leave luggage in the car unattended for any length of time here in the States so would do no differently abroad. Best to either turn the car in and take the luggage along on the train, or book a hotel with parking close enough to take the bags to the hotel.
Posted by
Mpls, MN
1005 posts
We drove to Vernazza from France and parked in a lot above the town. Unfortunately, due to the tragic flood of Oct. 2011, I read that the lot was washed away. Was last here in Oct. 2014 and we trained in so do not know if the parking lot in Vernazza is rebuilt. It is too bad that the LaSpezia train station does not have bag storage.